Computer simulation of domain growth in ferroelectric liquid crystals

The electro-optic response of a surface-stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal (SSFLC) cell is determined largely by the dynamics of polarization reversal at the chevron interface. This process involves the nucleation, growth, and ultimate coalescence of polarization reversal domains. These domains are generally faceted, being either polygonal or characteristically boat shaped. We have performed computer simulations in two dimensions (2D) of field-driven domain growth at the chevron interface in SSFLCs. By including elastic anisotropy and the orientational binding of the chevron in the equation of motion, we get anisotropic domain growth and, for a range of applied field strengths E, partially faceted domain shapes. The measured growth rates have the same field dependence as is seen experimentally, the domain area increasing as A∝(Et${)}^2$. We have also developed an analytical algorithm similar to the Wulff construction for calculating the spatial evolution of 2D domains as a function of time for arbitrary starting shapes. In the present case of ferroelectric domain growth, we can derive full 2D domain shapes from the directional variation of the velocity of planar walls as measured by computer simulations in only 1D.